Trump Pardons Silk Road Founder Ross Ulbricht After Serving Over 11 Years

Highlights:

• Trump pardons Ross Ulbricht and fulfills his campaign promise to libertarian supporters.
• The pardon has sparked mixed reactions, with critics calling it risky and supporters praising the move.
• The pardon is a win against harsh sentencing and government overreach.

President Donald Trump has granted Ross Ulbricht a full pardon. Silk Road is famous for being a marketplace on the popular dark web. Trump announced the news through his social media platform, Truth Social. In his first public remarks on the pardon, Trump called it his ‘pleasure’ and criticized Ulbricht’s life sentence as ‘ridiculous.’

BREAKING: PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER TO FREE ROSS ULBRICHT pic.twitter.com/KL7sJzl50i

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) January 21, 2025

The court convicted Ulbricht of creating and running the Silk Road in 2015. The platform sold illegal drugs, hacking tools, and stolen passports. It uses Bitcoin for transactions and operates on the dark web. Authorities accuse him of facilitating over $200 million worth of drug sales.

Prosecutors charged Ulbricht with conspiracy to traffic drugs and money laundering during the trial. He received two life sentences without parole. When handing down the sentence, District Judge Katherine Forrest said it was a warning to others. Trump fulfilled a promise he made during his presidential campaign with his pardon.

During his first full day back in office, Trump spoke to Ulbricht’s mother. He told her of the decision to pardon her son. Trump said Ulbricht had done enough time for his non-violent crimes.

Public Reaction to Trump Pardoning Silk Road Founder

Supporters have welcomed the decision to pardon him, while critics have questioned the move. Some supporters maintain that the sentence was too harsh for non-violent offenses. His case had long been championed by libertarian activists who had called for his clemency.

The chair of the Libertarian National Committee, Angela McArdle, praised the decision. She called Ulbricht a political prison, and the pardon would be a move toward justice. Senator Rand Paul also supported the move. He said Ulbricht was punished much harsher than drug dealers who used the platform.

I was right. My critics were wrong. Trump freed Ross 36 hours into his term.
This is my victory lap. Thank you @realDonaldTrump !! https://t.co/3jKwAoCcEU

— Angela McArdle (@angela4LNCChair) January 22, 2025

His defense pointed out inconsistencies in the case. Murder for hire charges initially filed against him were dropped. His clemency lawyer, Brandon Sample, thanked Trump for the decision. 

The marketplace hosted nearly a million registered users at its peak. Investigators could not determine the number of active users. Law enforcement shut down the site in 2013 after his arrest. Ulbricht has spent more than 11 years in federal prison and has not violated any prison rules while serving time.

Call for Sentencing Reforms and Crypto Reforms

The case caught the attention of criminal justice reform advocates. They contend that his punishment was excessive sentencing for non-violent crimes. Libertarians have called his pardon a ‘victory over government overreach.’ Senator Rand Paul highlighted disparities in sentencing. He compared the life sentence to the shorter terms given to other offenders. Paul called for broader reforms in the justice system.

The pardon is one of several executive actions signed by Trump since returning to office. Trump commuted the sentences of over 1,500 people who were charged with involvement in the January 6 Capitol riot. President Trump is expected to bring more reforms to the crypto sector.